Mayra Ruiz Gallegos is a pharmacy technology student at Carrington College’s Mesa Campus in Arizona. She started her program, which trains students to become successful pharmacy technicians, in November 2013. She has been blogging about her experiences, from her enrollment interview and first day of class to how the pharmacy tech core class has gone so far.
“I decided to look at Pharmacy Technology programs because I wanted to be able to expand my knowledge, be able to do more for the members, and achieve more for myself.”
Inspired to Study Pharmacy Technology
Before starting her 10-month program, Gallegos had been working for Humana Insurance’s mail-order pharmacy. This experience of working with clients who rely on mail-order service because they have trouble getting out of the house made her realize her passion for and her desire to building a career in the pharmaceutical industry.
“I decided to look at Pharmacy Technology programs because I wanted to be able to expand my knowledge, be able to do more for the members, and achieve more for myself,” wrote Gallegos in her November 25, 2013 blog. “This is kind of like my first step. I want to keep going from here, I want to be a pharmacist. I love helping people and I really want to learn more. I knew that I had to go to school to be able to assist people better and to achieve my own goals – so here I am!”
Complex Curriculum
In her latest blog (February 3, 2014), Gallegos shares how she just started the pharmacy tech core class, after completing Carrington’s Foundations Course. She says the transition has been like going “from baby steps to walking,” as the pharmacy tech curriculum is much more complex. (She really valued the foundations course, however, as it was a great way to get her back into academic mode after being out of school for several years). She recommends consistently studying and getting a good night sleep before test time. Although she has felt overwhelmed sometimes, her pharmacy tech instructor takes the time to explain tough topics, which helps build confidence and understanding.
Additional Campuses
Carrington College also offers pharmacy technology programs at campuses in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Boise, Idaho; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Spokane, Washington. Additionally, Carrington College offers pharmacy tech programs, at numerous campuses, such as Sacramento, San Jose, San Leandro and other California locales, that are accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists.
Carrington College’s pharmacy technology programs strive to provide both classroom and hands-on learning opportunities, including an externship at a real-world, clinical workplace, plus prepare students to write the CPhT certification exam.
